STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2786

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2655

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2655, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the present and critical need for ensuring that those individuals requiring the services of a licensed school psychologist receive appropriate services by highly qualified and licensed professionals.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires school psychologists to be licensed by the Board of Psychology;

(2) Establishes standards for the licensing of school psychologists; and

(3) Increases the membership of the Board of Psychology to include two members who are licensed school psychologists.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.‘

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Board of Psychology, the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, and the Regulated Industries Complaints Office of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is the only state in the nation that does not require licensure for school psychologists and allows untrained individuals to provide mental health treatment to students. Unlicensed school psychologists have the potential to misdiagnose students and prescribe an inappropriate course of action for a student, which in turn may harm the student's mental well-being, behavioral maturity, learning growth, and relationships with teachers and peers. Your Committee believes that by establishing licensure requirements and criteria for school psychologists, this measure will help ensure that school psychologists are equipped to create supportive learning and social environments for all students.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the definition of "board" in the new part since it duplicates the definition currently in the chapter;

(2) Clarifying that the eighteen hours of continuing education required for school psychologists shall be accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists;

(3) Changing the effective date of the measure and the licensing deadline for school psychologists to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2655, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2655, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair